Peace Declaration (1970)

When man's science glories in the achievements in the outer space, on earth the yet unmitigated distrust among the nations is repeatedly engendering the crime of armed hostilities, such as is witnessed in the deplorable realities in Vietnam and the Middle East.

Hiroshima has attested to the eventual possibility of human extermination from the earth if the nuclear weapons were to be unleashed for actual use. In face of Hiroshima's protest, however, the major powers of the world, ever engrossed in the endless race of nuclear armament, are treading the path to man's self-destruction.

The first atomic bomb in man's history was dropped on Hiroshima twenty-five years ago today, when our city was reduced to utter ruins in a flash and the loss of precious human lives numbered more than two hundred thousand. Even now, the bomb survivors are constantly threatened by its potential menace to life. Such a dire catastrophe should under no circumstances be ever repeated.

Since that fatal day, our knowledge of the human disaster in Hiroshima has kept alive our call for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the renunciation of wars, which, favorably supported by the world-wide opinion, has contributed, to say the least of it, to prevent the use of nuclear weapons. This achievement inspires us to further consolidate our national aspiration for peace as well as to help implant the experience of Hiroshima deep in the hearts of all people of the world in order to advance our cause aimed at the total elimination of nuclear weapons and the realization of an everlasting peace of the world.

It is now high time that a citadel for peace be built within the hearts of all men. Peace can no longer belong to a single nation alone. The world is one and mankind is of one inseparable body. Acting on the consciousness of all men being world-citizens, we should establish a world-wide order of peace ruled by a World Law founding itself on the spirit of universal interdependence of all human beings.

On this day that marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, we strongly call out to the world with this appeal, as we solemnly pray for the repose of the departed souls of the victims.

August 6, 1970

Setsuo Yamada
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima